Masquerade [Risika]

[Dove Alexander]

Dove was bored. In fact, it was going beyond that now. Even forcing random vampyres to float was loosing its amusement to her.

The ball had been going on for hours now, and still there was no connection. Every year or so, her Father would hold these masquerades in the hope that Dove would find her mate. And every year it failed. Of course, as the whole of the Court was forced into the same room, connections were made; it was inevitable. But it was never for her.

She looked down from her throne at the gathered masses and felt ... nothing. Even for the vampyres that were so well made they were practically busting out of their shirts, she felt nothing. And it was starting to grate on her nerves.

She looked around for her Father and found him dancing again with his sister. At least he was having fun, or at least making it look as if he was. He actually loathed doing this as much as she did, but felt that he had to. It was a good way to keep the spirits of his Family up, especially in these dark times.

Every day there was news of more attacks on the lower Houses of Court. Yesterday alone, two whole Houses were wiped out. If she didn't know better, she'd say her Father was getting worried. Personally, she didn't particularly care; they were lower classes so it didn't affect her. The latest attack, however, bothered her. They'd killed a young vampyre who was destined to be one of Dove's maids later in life. It was as if they had something against her or something.

The music stopped and the masses clapped, causing Dove to start out of her reverie. She clapped along, managing to tag on to the end, and the band started up again, this time in a slow waltz.

Dove gritted her teeth as couples started to whirl gracefully around the floor. The chatter that had been almost as loud as the band during the other songs died down to a whisper as those not dancing watched. She hated this dance, it was specially made for those who had met their Life Mates and every year she had to sit on the side lines and watch.

Her Father, as if feeling her discomfort, walked over and sat on his throne next to her. "Don't be disheartened, my dear, not all the Court is here. Some were unable to attend, some not willing to travel into London at this time. And you're powerful enough not to be in the position where you need your Mate." He patted her hand awkwardly, not quite used to comforting her in public where he couldn't show signs of weakness. If the vampyres knew how much he doted on his daughter, she'd be a target for those wanting to climb the ranks.

She watched as he walked off to talk to his sister once more, then looked around looking for her cousin. Instead of finding her, she caught the eye of a young vampyre dressed in a Phantom of the Opera mask. She nodded to him, which he took as an invitation to approach.

"Madam, it is such as shame that during this ball you should remain masked, for I have seen your beauty and know that this is where it shines the most." He bowed low to her, and looked up, a smile playing in his eyes. "May I ask you for your hand in the next dance?"

She looked over to her Father, making it as inconspicuous as she could manage. On seeing his slight head shake, she looked back down to the man in front of her and sighed. It really was a shame, he was divine and would have been a good way to alleviate her boredom. "Stand, Logan Williams, and leave. I have no interest in being your partner tonight."

[/color]

She looked away, not before seeing the anger play through his eyes. The conspiracies were getting bolder; she needed to be more careful.[/blockquote][/size]

[risikajameson]

Risika entered the masquerade with her brother Emerson and sister Lily; their arms were linked together with Emerson in the center. Risika kept her face apathetic, allowing no signs of expression to pass across her visage. Her posture and slow, poised walk were very sophisticated and matched those of her siblings to her left. This was the first year that they had attended the Alexanders' ball without their father, so Emerson was taking his place.

The three found their appropriate seats at a table fairly close to the Alexander throne, but still quite a distance away. Lily and Emerson removed their masks to better watch the dancing and to converse with the other vampyres when and if the situation would present itself.

A young, handsome vampyre approached the table and asked Lily to accompany him with a dance. With a feminine giggle, she rose and followed him gracefully to the dance floor leaving Risika with her brother. Risika frowned as she watched her sister beaming brightly while dancing.

Emerson sighed in an aggravated manner. "You were supposed to wear a mask, Risika," he hissed in her direction without looking at her. At the sound of his voice, Risika turned her gaze from her sister to her brother.

Risika smirked for a moment before replying, "Brother, calm yourself. I always wear a mask." Her voice fell a little at her comment. She was always wearing a mask and she never seemed to just be herself. Risika quickly disposed herself of these thoughts. She allowed for her sapphire eyes to turn to bright silver color and she extended the length of her eyelashes until they touched her eyebrows. Her full lips turned a light pink so that they were almost white. "Does this mask suffice?" she asked almost teasingly.

"Do not mock me," Emerson said with a sudden rage. He had a temper that could be quite lethal and disastrous if intense. That was his strength; one that Risika thought he still needed to master.

"Emery," was all she had to say before he sighed and looked down at the table.

"I apologize. I feel very tense. Father, the attacks, everything has me on edge," his voice was softer as he confessed. I still have so much to do and to learn before I can take father's place in royalty when he is gone."

Risika was in a rather playful mood. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Is it not the first-born son who would take father's place. Doesn't that make Mason the new head of our little house?"

Emery fumed with anger. "Mason is a traitor!" he jeered. "The Family of Blood does not even consider him to be a member." He had stood up and was leaning over Risika.

Risika looked around the ballroom to find a couple of vampyres looking over at their table from the scene he had just caused--or rather that she had caused. She turned toward her brother and put a cold hand on his arm. With a blink, her eyes returned to sapphire blue. She allowed for her eyes to meet perfect contact with his. Immediately he sat down and was calm.

A few hours had passed and Lily still had not returned. Risika looked over at Emery who was seated with a blank expression next to her. His gaze was fixed on someone. Risika allowed her eyes to follow until they landed on the Alexander daughter.

Turning toward Emery she suggested, "You should ask the Alexander daughter to dance. I've seen you watching her."

Emerson looked at Risika with raised eyebrows, "I don't think that would be the wisest idea. We're not on the most familiar terms."

Risika rose from her seat and began to walk toward Dove Alexander. She allowed for her face to return to its original state, so that her real appearance was clear. She walked with a steady, sophisticated stride that was so graceful it seemed like a waltz in itself. She approached the girl with a slight bow.

"Dove Alexander, what a respectable masquerade this has turned out to be," Risika spoke with soft, yet confident words. She felt as though that was rather pathetic. She tried to think of something else to add and to introduce herself to the girl of such high nobility but was almost at a loss of words. "It is always such an honor to be a part of something as noble and elegant as this." She waited for Dove to respond before continuing.

[Dove Alexander]

Dove tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair slowly, showing to anyone that she was bored beyond reason and something interesting had better happen soon or heads would roll. Since she’d blown Logan off so publically, no one had come up to her apart from her Father and her cousin. Thankfully, she’d had a few turns about the dance floor with them, but that was all.

She ran her fingers lightly over the porcelain mask, just a few shades lighter than her skin. It had been specifically made to look like a doll, her Fathers request. He wanted her to look delicate and fragile. Why, she had no idea; surely that would just make her more of a target. But what her Father wanted, her Father got; she took after him in that respect. Thanks to this, she’d won the argument over her dress. The most expensive crushed silk money could buy, the colour of blood, it set of the colour of her skin to perfection. With jewels entwined in her hair and around her neck, no one looked as good as she did, and she made sure everyone knew it.

She surveyed the dance floor again, wishing that she could go hunt. This was boring her to tears; or rather it would be if it could. She threw a glance at her Father which he ignored with a flick of his hand. It was okay for him, he was able to walk about the dance floor, but tradition stated that she sit on her throne until someone asked her to dance.

At the end of the dance, her Father walked over to her once more. ”How are you, my dearest?”

She smiled sweetly up at him and hissed under her breath, ”If something interesting does not happen in the next five seconds, I will pin everyone to the ceiling and not let them down.”

Her Father laughed and patted her cheek, keeping up the charade. ”If you so much as make another vampire float, I shall personally hand you over to the dogs. You will learn to be around these vampyres and look as if it’s not a Herculean task to do so.” He patted her cheek once more, harder than necessary, and walked off to join his advisor and his mate.

She took a deep breath, exaggerating the movement whilst trying to catch the attention of someone. Any male would do, she just wanted to get off this throne before she became part of it.

As if answering this thought, someone moved from the table and walked around to the space in front of her. Unfortunately for Dove, it was female. She wasn’t against the idea completely, but it just wasn’t for her.

She watched with raised eyebrows as the woman in front of her morphed into someone familiar. Ah! Risika Jameson. Dove knew her by reputation only. It was said that, if it weren’t for Dove, Risika would be the most attractive vampyre in the Court. At least, that was what she had heard when she was in earshot. Out of her earshot, she had no idea what was said.

She looked over her with a critical eye and conceded that she was attractive, in an obvious kind of way at least. And the fact that she could change her appearance would help her become more so. Hell, anyone could be attractive with that power.

Concluding that she had nothing to worry about, Dove sat up straight in her throne and looked down at her.

”Risika Jameson.”

[/color] She spoke to the vampyre in her most regal of tones, making sure the younger vampyre knew her place.

"Dove Alexander, what a respectable masquerade this has turned out to be. It is always such an honour to be a part of something as noble and elegant as this." Risika spoke in a soft, confident voice, yet still managed to be respectful.

Dove smiled behind her mask, and bowed her head slightly in approval. ”Thank you, Risika Jameson, your compliment is very welcome indeed. I am glad you find this to your liking.”[/color] She looked around and saw that her Father was watching with interest, as was a large proportion of the Court.

She smiled once more, loving the feel of the spotlight, and removed her mask. Looking down at Risika once more, she leant forward a little, giving the illusion of interest and privacy. ”I see that you and you’re siblings have come alone. Pray, where is your Father?”[/b][/blockquote][/size]